This week, One Piece brings us an exciting—if somewhat simple—episode.
It can be a bit of a challenge to review episodes like these if I'm being honest. Many of One Piece's more prominent elements fade into the background. This episode does not feature any grandiose political maneuvering or dramatic appearances by previously hidden powerbrokers. There is no shocking lore reveals or hints at eras long past. If you're looking for heart-wrenching flashbacks or introspective moments of reflection, keep on walking.
This episode is about fighting, and whew Lord it's the good stuff.
Law and Kid square off against Big Mom and the big attacks start flying. Wano is an arc of big bruisers throwing big attacks at each other, so it's not outside the norm in any way. I think Law and Kid are a team up that is more than the sum of its parts, and the sort of Worst Generation trio they've formed with Luffy makes for a very funny dynamic. The sense of desperation is palpable as they face Big Mom and her seemingly endless hordes of backup, and despite it all, she still manages to come out on top.
The Toei animation team is once again strutting their stuff and delivering absolutely gorgeous renditions of these attacks throughout the runtime. It's a veritable feast for the eyes, and while the quality and fluidity are high I think the big draw is the color. The entire episode just pops with these bright glowing purples and greens, almost candy-colored hues of a type that we don't see terribly often. The closeups on Big Mom's face are a real highlight for me, with her eyes turning into burning bubblegum fires. There's even more great play with lighting during the sequences where she is absorbing and rearranging life energy across the battlefield of Onigashima, streaming soul streaks cutting through the dark air.
If I were to sum up Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! in a single word, that word would be “cute.”― If I were to sum up Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! in a single word, that word would be “cute.” Shiki and Fuyuki's interactions are a mixture of playful (and sometimes sexual) teasing and heartfelt feelings as the two come to value each other. They have real chemistry—and that drives the anime stra...
Lucas and Steve catch up on the Hunter × Hunter manga in time for the long-awaited new chapter and gush about why, even with years between releases, Hunter × Hunter is worth it.― Lucas and Steve catch up on the Hunter × Hunter manga in time for the long-awaited new chapter and gush about why, even with years between releases, Hunter × Hunter is worth it. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed...
Series previously inspired 52-episode anime in 1993― This year's 24th issue of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine revealed on Wednesday that Gosho Aoyama's Yaiba manga will be getting a new anime adaptation. Aoyama is supervising. The series follows the titular Yaiba Kurogane, a young samurai boy inspired by Miyamoto Musashi, the real-life swordsman who pioneered the Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū sty...
Based on the novel by former Nogizaka46 member Kazumi Takayama, trapezium asks its audience to follow one girl who will use anything, and anyone, to achieve her dream.― Trapezium is a strange movie, to say the least. On the surface, it's a rather simple movie that explores youth, their dreams, and the lengths they'll go to achieve those dreams. It's a coming-of-age story wrapped in the veneer of the...
ZeroReq011 remembers what made Spice and Wolf a story for the ages, from its fully realized world and economics to Holo and Lawrence's romantic chemistry.― Back when Funimation was still its own company and not owned by Sony, long before its in-house streaming service was terminated in favor of Crunchyroll's streaming platform, it owned a TV channel. Legal streaming had yet to dominate the Western a...
Anime will star Hiroshi Kamiya, Kotaro Nishiyama, Kotaro Nishiyama― Distribution company Remow announced on Tuesday that Yura Urushibara's Tougen Anki: Dark Demon of Paradise manga will get a television anime in 2025. The company revealed the trailer, key visual, and main cast for the anime. The anime's cast includes:
Kazuki Ura as Shiki Ichinose, the protagonist who inherits the blood of an Oni. Sh...
Nick and Chris recount some of the most frustrating anime cancellations, from the Yuri on Ice movie to the second half of Stars Align.― Nick and Chris recount some of the most frustrating anime cancellations from the second half of Stars Align to the 2007 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood movie. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views...
Welcome to the rankings for the Spring 2024 season! The perfect place to check out which hidden gems might have flown under your radar.― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings are based on how people rated ...
Producer Masakazu Kubo shares the animation team's dedication to realism, including bringing in a pro golfer to produce the anime's sound effects.― 64-year-old Masakazu Kubo has been planning and producing anime for decades. He's had a major hand in everything from Pokémon and Detective Conan to Teasing Master Takagi-san and Dorohedoro. Recently, he sat down with us to talk about Tonbo!, his attemp...